Summary of Bats and Land-Based Wind Energy Development in the United States and Canada

Hoary Bat

Deployment of wind energy over the past 20 years has increased renewable energy generation, but also raised concerns regarding the impact of wind turbine collisions on certain bat species (Friedenberg and Frick 2021). In 2012, the estimated number of bat fatalities from wind energy development in the United States and Canada ranged from 196,190 to 395,886 (Arnett and Baerwald 2013). The installed capacity across the two countries at the time was approximately 66,000 megawatts. Since then, the installed capacity of wind energy has more than doubled (Rand et al. 2020); therefore, the number of annual bat fatalities has likely increased as well.

A total of 22 species of bats have been reported as fatalities at wind energy facilities in the United States and Canada (American Wind Wildlife Institute 2020). Migratory tree-roosting species, including the hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus), eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis), and silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans), constitute approximately 72% of bat carcasses reported, but other species, such as the Brazilian free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis), can make up a significant portion of fatalities in the southern United States (Arnett and Baerwald 2013; Zimmerling and Francis 2016; American Wind Wildlife Institute 2020; Weaver et al. 2020). Wind turbines are also known to cause fatalities of federally endangered species including the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis), northeastern myotis (Myotis septentrionalis), and Hawaiian hoary bat (Lasiurus semotus), but occurrences are relatively rare (Erickson et al. 2016; Gorresen et al. 2020). Differences in behavior, abundance, and other factors likely contribute to the variability in fatality rates among bat species.

Data on relative age and sex of individual carcasses is inconclusive as it is difficult to determine this information from many of the carcasses that are recovered during searches (Korstian et al. 2013; Nelson et al. 2018; Chipps et al. 2020). The lack of demographic data for many bat species makes it difficult to assess the potential population-level impacts of wind turbines. Given that many species have a small population and slow growth rate, it has become increasingly important to better understand the long-term impact of wind energy on certain species of bats (Barclay and Harder 2003; Kunz et al. 2007; Russell et al. 2014; Frick et al. 2017; Friedenberg and Frick 2021).

    The table below contains the literature relevant to this summary document and will continue to be updated as new literature is added to Tethys.

    Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
    Temporal Patterns in Capture Rate and Sex Ratio of Forest Bats in Arkansas Perry, R., Carter, S., Thill, R. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    Wind Turbines and Bat Mortality: Rotor Detectability Profiles Long, C., Flint, J., Baker, K., Lepper, P. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    Avian and Bat Protection Plan for the Spring Valley Wind Energy Facility SWCA Environmental Consultants Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats, Birds, Human Dimensions
    Klondike III (Phase 1) Wind Power Project Wildlife Monitoring Study October 2007–October 2009 Gritski, B., Downes, S., Kronner, K. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
    Post-Construction Avian Monitoring Study for the Shiloh II Wind Power Project Solano County, California Kerlinger, P., Curry, R., Culp, L., Hasch, A., Jain, A. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
    The precautionary principle and wind-farm planning: data scarcity does not imply absence of effects Carrete, M., Sanchez-Zapata, J., Benitez, J., Lobon, M., Camina, A., Lekuona, J., Montelio, E., Donazar, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Raptors, Birds, Bats
    Bat Mortality at Wind Turbines in Northwestern Europe Rydell, J., Bach, L., Dubourg-Savage, M., Green, M., Rodrigues, L., Hedenstrom, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    An Acoustic Study of Bat Activity at the Proposed Coyote Crest Wind Power Project, Washington, Spring-Fall 2008 Hein, C., Rodman, L. , Schwab, N., Mabee, T. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    Search Areas for Monitoring Bird and Bat Carcasses at Wind Farms using a Monte-Carlo Model Hull, C., Muir, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
    Effectiveness of Changing Wind Turbine Cut-in Speed to Reduce Bat Fatalities at Wind Facilities 2010 Arnett, E., Schirmacher, M., Huso, M., Hayes, J. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    What Can Birds Tell Us about the Migration Physiology of Bats? McGuire, L., Guglielmo, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Bats
    Spatial Pattern of Summer Bat Mortality from Collisions with Wind Turbines in Mixed-Grass Prairie Piorkowski, M., O'Connell, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds, Bats
    Bird and Bat Fatality Studies Fowler Ridge III Wind-Energy Facility Benton County, Indiana: April 2 - June 10, 2009 Johnson, G., Ritzert, M., Nomani, S., Bay, K. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Birds, Bats
    Final Report Bird and Bat Fatality Studies Fowler Ridge I Wind-Energy Facility Benton County, Indiana: April 6 - October 30, 2009 Johnson, G., Ritzert, M., Nomani, S., Bay, K. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats, Birds
    Megawatts are not megawatt-hours and other responses to Willis et al. Sovacool, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Birds, Bats
    Bats are not birds and other problems with Sovacool's (2009) analysis of animal fatalities due to electricity generation Willis, C., Barclay, R., Boyles, J., Brigham, R., Brack, V., Waldien, D., Reichard, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Displacement, Collision, Attraction Birds, Bats
    Wind Turbine Guidelines Advisory Committee Recommendations US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats, Birds, Fish
    Wind Turbine Interactions with Birds, Bats, and their Habitats: A Summary of Research Results and Priority Questions National Wind Coordinating Collaborative Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats, Birds
    Bat Acoustic Studies for the Pleasant Ridge Wind Resource Area - Livingston County, Illinois - Final Report July 15 - October 21, 2009 Good, R., Ritzert, J., Gruver, J., Bay, K. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    Avian, bat and habitat cumulative impacts associated with wind energy development in the Columbia Plateau Ecoregion of Eastern Washington and Oregon Johnson, G., Erickson, W. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
    Best Management Practices for Bats in New Mexico Balistreri, M. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Habitat Change Bats
    Incidence and Management of Live and Injured Bats at Wind Energy Facilities Klug, B., Baerwald, E. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    Post‐Construction Bat and Bird Fatality Study at the Blue Sky Green Field Wind Energy Center, Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin: July 21, 2008 – October 31, 2008 and March 15, 2009 – June 4, 2009 Gruver, J., Sonnenburg, M., Bay, K., Erickson, W. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Birds, Bats
    Bats on the move Popa-Lisseanu, A., Voigt, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
    Geographic Variation in Activity and Fatality of Migratory Bats at Wind Energy Facilities Baerwald, E., Barclay, R. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    Differences in bat activity in relation to bat detector height: implications for bat surveys at proposed windfarm sites Collins, J., Jones, G. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    Ripley Wind Power Project Post-Construction Monitoring Report Jacques Whitford Stantec Limited Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
    Interim summary: bat acoustic monitoring at the proposed Blue Creek Wind Farm, Paulding and Van Wert County, Ohio BHE Environmental Inc Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Bats
    Port Elizabeth Wind Energy Facility Avifaunal and Bat Impact Assessment Strugnell, L., Smallie, J., Patterson-Abrolat, C. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Birds, Bats
    Post-Construction Avian Monitoring Study for the Shiloh I Wind Power Project Solano County, California Kerlinger, P., Curry, R., Culp, L., Hasch, A., Jain, A. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Raptors, Birds, Bats
    2008/2009 Annual Report for the Buena Vista Avian and Bat Monitoring Project Insignia Environmental Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
    A Large-Scale Mitigation Experiment to Reduce Bat Fatalities at Wind Energy Facilities Baerwald, E., Edworthy, J., Holder, M., Barclay, R. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    Avian and Bat Fatality Rates at Old-Generation and Repowered Wind Turbines in California Smallwood, K., Karas, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Raptors, Birds, Bats
    The Aversive Effect of Electromagnetic Radiation on Foraging Bats—A Possible Means of Discouraging Bats from Approaching Wind Turbines Nicholls, B., Racey, P. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, EMF Bats
    Interim Report: Post-Construction Bat and Bird Fatality Study Blue Sky Green Field Wind Resource Area Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin Gruver, J., Bay, K., Erickson, W. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats, Birds
    Bats and Onshore Wind Farms: Site-by-Site Assessment and Post-Construction Monitoring Protocols Catherine, C., Spray, S. Magazine Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    Wind Power Plants and the Conservation of Birds and Bats in Spain: A Geographical Assessment Telleria, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Habitat Change Birds, Bats
    Proceedings of the Wind Wildlife Research Meeting VII Schwartz, S. Conference Paper Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
    Patterns of Bat Fatality at the Casselman Wind Project in South-Central Pennsylvania: 2008 Annual Report Arnett, E., Schirmacher, M., Huso, M., Hayes, J. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision Bats
    Birds, Bats and Coastal Wind Farm Development in Maine: A Literature Review Goodale, W., Divoll, T. Report Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds
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